. >>> newly appointed defense secretary leon panetta landed in afghanistan a short time ago. this is his first visit to the war zone as the nation's top military boss. panetta's trip points to the importance of afghanistan, especially with the troop drawdown beginning this month. panetta says the u.s. is within reach of defeating al qaeda altogether, saying, quote, we have them on the run. >>> in washington, a call for peace from dalai lama. the tibetan spiritual leader is speaking at this hour, right now, at an event called a talk for world peace. it is being held on the lawn of the u.s. capitol. >> try to create calm mind, peaceful mind. and then that creates within our own fabric, within our own community. that's the way to change society. >> spreading peace through change. the dalai lama is on an 11-day trip to washington. he then heads to chicago for two more speaking engagements. >>> "atlantis" is in the middle of its last trip to the international space station. the final space mission began yesterday with a flawless launch from the kennedy space center. the astronauts